ACROSS
 7. <clear space> DAYLIGHT = D ALIGHT outside Y
 9. <sharp projections> THORNS = NORTH* + S
10. BOO N = BOON <gift>
11. T RAG + I COMIC = TRAGICOMIC <provoking different emotions with story>
12. <Madagascan animal> TENREC = (.t)TEN REC(o.)
13. <welcoming> GREETING = (GREEN + G) outside _TI_
15. <unorthodox ideas> LATERAL THINKING = KIN inside LATER ALTHING
18. <sound of steam> CHOO-CHOO = C HOOCH OO
20. "BRIDLE" = BRIDAL <for newlywed>
22. AIRCREWMAN* = CRIMEAN WAR <military conflict>
24. <did live> WERE = "WHIRR"
25. <machine used during war> ENIGMA = (GAME IN)*
26. RE HEAR S_E = REHEARSE <drill>

DOWN
 1. G AL ORE = GALORE <in abundance>
 2. (ONE LORD'S)* = OLD NORSE <language of the Eddas>
 3. STRAIGHT + FOR + WARD = STRAIGHTFORWARD <not bluffing>
 4. __E __T__U__I__ = ETUI <case>
 5. <one of the presenters> CO-HOST = COHOS T
 6. <Hoosier> INDIANAN = DIANA inside INN
 8. GA TEC RASH = GATECRASH <to turn up uninvited>
14. ←H GRUB + N IDE← = EDINBURGH <city>
16. <advocate> ADHERENT = AD HE RENT
17. "NIT WHERE" = KNITWEAR <woollen garments>
19. OH + MAGE = OHMAGE <some resistance>
21. <still> AT REST = A (R inside TEST)
23. (.e)AFAR(e.) = AFAR <from a long way away>